How was your holiday weekend? Ours was great. The Captain got his dark chocolate and hummus, as well as a few toys, and the Peanut got little toys and a few Reese eggs. She was not impressed with the toys as much as the velvety, chocolate peanut butter goodness that is the Reese egg. Before you ask, no, I did not make them my Reese eggs, even I would think that’s lame in a basket.
I ran quite a bit on Saturday evening in preparation for yesterday’s peanut butter egg and carbohydrate feast. I did 9 miles around my neighborhood with a 7:49 average pace per mile. It was not my fastest run, but I am proud of it and I didn’t trip over one stroller. That, in itself, is an accomplishment.
Let me tell you, I have played chauffer to 2 kids in strollers, and have not once hit a runner. I go in a straight path, keep my eyes out for people coming around, and, if I accidentally bump someone, I say things like “I’m sorry” or “oh my gosh I didn’t mean to do that”.
Here’s the thing. In Brooklyn, stollers rule. The women of my neighborhood bob and weave all over the sidewalk like they’re doing the mother loving “cha cha slide”. I have dished out so many dirty looks, muttered expletives, (mostly in Slovak) and old Gypsy curses (that I got from books and movies. May the heels on ALL your Jimmy Choo’s break and splinter!!!) over the years, I am tired of hearing them myself. I have NO idea why they do it. I DO know why I laugh excitedly on my run, when I see one of my top offenders get a flat tire on their $1000 stroller. I know, I am the devil. Whatever. Have you ever been hit by a stroller the size of a VW bug? No? alright then.
So it is understandable why I got so excited over my stroller-free run. I felt free! Free of my modern, urban obstacle course, free of the dreadmill, and free to eat a little extra on Easter. Oh yes, my not-so-speedy run was worth every mile. It was worth it because I made a holiday dessert, so heart-stopping, it could turn Dr Oz into Dick Cheney.
What started out as a funny idea, born of pure ridiculousness, turned into something so grave, so ridiculous, you’d think I’d turned into Paula Deen briefly. Or at least I was possessed by ghost of many Keebler elves. That’s a terrifying thought.
Four Layer Brownies. Yup. One layer of chocolate chip cookie, one layer of springtime oreos, one layer of peanut butter cookie, topped off with a layer of rich, chocolatey brownie. The SMALLEST dose of these brownies is enough to give you a cavity. I ended up cutting the bars into 1″ by 1″ squares, and that is well large enough. Get out your insulin, you scamps. You’re going to need it.
4 Layer Oreo Brownies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
Keywords: bake dessert bars
Ingredients (a ton of bars.)
for the first layer
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 cup plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
for the second layer
- 16 oreos
for the third layer
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
for the brownie layer
- follow this batter recipe to the letter-it’s the only one I use
- http://www.food.com/recipe/whatever-floats-your-boat-brownies-32204
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375F
spray a 13″-9″ pan
make each batter separately
cream butter (and peanut butter if necessary)and sugars,
sift in dry ingredients, add in chips.
spread the chocolate chip cookie dough into the bottom of the pan first
layer the oreos in a single layer
press the peanut butter cookie dough on top of the oreos in an even layer
pour brownie batter on top
bake for approximately 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out mostly clean.
What did you get for Easter?
If you celebrated Passover, how was it?
If you celebrate neither, be honest, you still had Cadbury eggs.
For Easter, I stole my sister’s Swedish Fish and ate chicken wings to celebrate the end of my Meat-Free Lent!!
And, I’ma shoot you straight: I don’t think I’ll ever make these bars. Not because they don’t look outrageously delicious but because my body might just reject all other food from then on. And I JUST got meat back.
completely understandable.
I feel guilty now. Not because I’m drooling over your ridiculously awesome 4 layer bars after just finishing off a bunch of chocolate and a hunk of cheese, but because I’m one of those moms with a tank for a stroller :/ Fortunately, I don’t run on the streets of NY and run into speed demons like you, nor is my stroller anywhere near a $1000. So now that I’ve justified myself and feel a little better, I think I’ll make your bars.
as long as you don’t hit runners out of pure spite, I will still love you.
haha i’m posting my five layer reese’s bars tomorrow morning! we’re like a match made in heaven.
I believe, by the appearance on your IG feed, your’s may have even MORE butter. Let’s go for a run now.
These take the idea of a slutty brownie and laugh!
these give the slutty brownies sugar chlamydia.
Wow…I’ve bookmarked this amazing look recipe. Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a great week.
I hope you love it!
Holy crap you’re a fast runner, give yourself some credit for those 9 miles! I was out of town and had a sort-of nontraditional Easter. We went to church then laid outside the entire day while grilling for lunch and dinner. It was perfect.
I’d love to grill dinner for Easter. It sounds wonderful.
I love your blog and your writing.
I know I say it all the time—but I have no filter so you have to be kind to me.
here’s your writing prompt for tomorrow:
I HAVENT WRITTEN A MEMOIR YET BECAUSE _______